The First World War

Season 12003

This ten-part docuseries tells the comprehensive story of the First World War, featuring excerpts written by Winston Churchill, Karen Blixen, Georges Clémenceau, David Lloyd George, Siegfried Sassoon and Rudolf Hess.

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10 Episodes

E01 To Arms (1914)

The First World War shaped the twentieth century. It sparked the Russian Revolution, and it launched America as a world power. The fault-line from its failed peace settlement led to a second terrible world war barely twenty years later.

September 20, 2003

E02 Under the Eagle (1914-1915)

The first months of the war on the Western Front were mobile, fast and dangerous; casualty rates were higher than with later trench warfare. The Germans were halted by the Allies at the Battle of the Mame, fell back to high ground and dug in. The Allies followed suit.

September 27, 2003

E03 Global War (1914-1916)

War for Europe meant war for the world. Germany gambled that Britain might risk everything to protect her Empire - even victory on the Western Front. So, to divert British resources, maverick German commanders led the British a dance; across the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

October 4, 2003

E04 Jihad (1914-1916)

The Ottoman Empire, Germany's ally, summoned all Muslims to Jihad - holy war - to overthrow Allied power in the Middle East. They proved a formidable foe, as the Allies found to their cost at Gallipoli and in the Middle East.

October 11, 2003

E05 Shackled to a Corpse (1914-1916)

As the Germans and Austrians clashed with The Russians on the bitter Eastern Front, Italy became embroiled in a terrible slaughter.

October 18, 2003

E06 Breaking the Deadlock (1915-1917)

Attrition, "lions led by donkeys", the slaughter only ceasing for a brief truce one Christmas - old, mistaken views of the war on the Western Front. In fact there was constant tactical evolutions; hundreds of generals died in action; some men adopted a system of "Live and Let Live", with countless informal local truces.

October 25, 2003

E07 Blockade (1916-1917)

The war at sea was every bit as bitter as the war on land. The battle at Jutland proved inconclusive but the U-Boat menace threatened Britain as never before. Meanwhile, America entered the war.

November 1, 2003

E08 Revolution (1917)

The effect of the Great War shattered nations, inspired mass mutinies by desperate troops, caused great upheaval on the home front and changed the world forever.

November 8, 2003

E09 Germany's Last Gamble (1918)

Over one million German troops were committed to Kaiserschlacht - the last great offensive of the war - while conflict still raged on many other fronts.

November 15, 2003

E10 War Without End (1918- )

The dramatic Allied victory at Amiens led to victory in just 100 days - and the signing of a bitterly-resented peace, while other nations stumbled towards their own ceasefire agreements.

November 22, 2003

The First World War

E01 To Arms (1914)

E02 Under the Eagle (1914-1915)

E03 Global War (1914-1916)

E04 Jihad (1914-1916)

E05 Shackled to a Corpse (1914-1916)

E06 Breaking the Deadlock (1915-1917)

E07 Blockade (1916-1917)

E08 Revolution (1917)

E09 Germany's Last Gamble (1918)

E10 War Without End (1918- )

Return to Lonesome Dove

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Chernobyl

The Walking Dead

Game of Thrones

Squid Game

Attack on Titan

Stranger Things

The Vampire Diaries

The Boys

Fallout

House of the Dragon

Better Call Saul

The Last of Us

E01 To Arms (1914)

E02 Under the Eagle (1914-1915)

E03 Global War (1914-1916)

E04 Jihad (1914-1916)

E05 Shackled to a Corpse (1914-1916)

E06 Breaking the Deadlock (1915-1917)

E07 Blockade (1916-1917)

E08 Revolution (1917)

E09 Germany's Last Gamble (1918)

E10 War Without End (1918- )